Integral swivel for multiple stage cementing tools apparatus and method of use

Abstract

A tool and method for selectively allowing a transmission of torque to a casing string at a position below installation of the tool along the casing string. The tool includes an upper body to engage with an upper portion of a casing string, a lower body to engage with a lower portion of a casing string, and a swivel assembly connecting the upper body to the lower body, the swivel assembly is to operate in multiple configurations such that the upper body and the lower body are selectively locked together to allow or prevent torque transmission through the tool from the upper portion of the casing string to the lower portion of the casing string.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An integral swivel tool for selectively allowing a transmission of torque to a casing string at a position below installation of the integral swivel tool along the casing string, the integral swivel tool comprising:
 an upper body configured to engage with an upper portion of the casing string; 
 a lower body configured to engage with a lower portion of the casing string; and 
 a swivel assembly connecting the upper body to the lower body, the swivel assembly is configured to operate in a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration to selectively allow the transmission of torque through the swivel assembly, the swivel assembly having: 
 a case swivel body mechanically coupled to the upper body and having the one or more circulation ports; 
 an opening seat positioned within the case swivel body, the opening seat coupled to the case swivel body with an upper torque retainer and coupled to the lower body with a lower torque retainer while in the first configuration; 
 a swivel retainer coupled to the case swivel body and engaged with the lower body such that swivel retainer can rotate independent of the lower body; and 
 a closing sleeve positioned within the case swivel body at a position above the opening seat; 
 wherein the opening seat is configured to disengage from the upper torque retainer and the lower torque retainer upon receiving a predetermined pressure; 
 wherein disengagement of the opening seat from the upper torque retainer and the lower torque retainer shifts the swivel assembly from the first configuration to the second configuration; and 
 wherein the closing sleeve is configured to shift from a first position to a second position upon receiving a predetermined force, the second position resulting in the closing sleeve blocking the one or more circulation ports; 
 wherein the first configuration locks the upper body and the lower body such that torque can be transmitted from the upper portion of the casing string to the lower portion of the casing string through the integral swivel tool; 
 wherein the second configuration unlocks the upper body from the lower body such that torque is not transmitted from the upper portion of the casing string to the lower portion of the casing string through the integral swivel tool, the second configuration further opening one or more circulation ports for fluid flow through the swivel assembly; and 
 wherein the third configuration blocks the one or more circulation ports, the third configuration allowing for the integral swivel tool to be drilled out to a full-bore flow path through the integral swivel tool while maintaining pressure integrity. 
 
     
     
       2. The integral swivel tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the opening seat having a tubular body with a plurality of splines extending parallel with the tubular body; 
 the upper torque retainer having a first plurality of interior grooves for locking with the plurality of splines; and 
 the lower torque retainer having a second plurality of interior grooves for locking with the plurality of splines; 
 wherein locking of the first plurality of interior grooves and the second plurality of interior grooves with the plurality of splines, locks the swivel assembly into the first configuration such that torque is transmitted through the swivel assembly. 
 
     
     
       3. The integral swivel tool of  claim 2 , wherein the lower torque retainer further comprises a plurality of exterior grooves to engage with a plurality of locking members extending from the lower body, thereby locking the lower torque retainer with the lower body. 
     
     
       4. The integral swivel tool of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of splines extend partially along the tubular body such that an upper portion of the tubular body is free of splines, wherein when the predetermined pressure is applied to the opening seat, the tubular body is pushed through the upper torque retainer and the lower torque retainer. 
     
     
       5. The integral swivel tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the lower body including a shoulder protruding from an exterior surface of the lower body; and 
 the swivel retainer including a shelf protruding inwardly from an interior surface of the swivel retainer; 
 wherein the shoulder and the shelf engage such that the swivel retainer remains coupled to the lower body while allowing for the swivel retainer to rotate independently from the lower body. 
 
     
     
       6. A method of selectively allowing a transmission of torque to a casing string at a position below installation of an integral swivel tool along the casing string, the method comprising:
 installing the integral swivel tool along a midpoint of the casing string, the integral swivel tool having an upper body to engage with an upper portion of the casing string, a lower body to engage with a lower portion of the casing string, and a swivel assembly connecting the upper body to the lower body, the swivel assembly configured to operate in a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration, wherein installing the integral swivel tool further comprises:
 coupling a case swivel body to the upper body, the case swivel body having one or more circulation ports; 
 coupling an opening seat to the case swivel body with an upper torque retainer and to the lower body with a lower torque retainer; 
 coupling a swivel retainer to the case swivel body and with the lower body such that swivel retainer can rotate independent of the lower body; and 
 positioning a closing sleeve within the case swivel body at a position above the opening seat; 
 
 running the casing string and the integral swivel tool into a wellbore, the swivel assembly starting in the first configuration such that the upper body and the lower body are rotationally locked and torque applied to the upper portion of the casing string is transferred to the lower portion of the casing string; 
 performing one or more pumping operations; 
 converting the swivel assembly into a second configuration, the second configuration unlocking the upper body from the lower body such that torque no longer transfers from the upper portion of the casing string to the lower portion of the casing string; 
 performing one or more fluid circulation operations such that fluid is circulated from inside of the swivel assembly to outside the swivel assembly through the one or more circulation ports; 
 converting the swivel assembly into a third configuration, the third configuration blocking the one or more circulation ports; and 
 allowing the integral swivel tool to be drilled out to create a full-bore flow path through the integral swivel tool. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein converting the swivel assembly into the second configuration comprises:
 applying a predetermined pressure to the opening seat to disengage the opening seat from the upper torque retainer and the lower torque retainer, thereby preventing torque from transferring from the upper portion of the casing string to the lower portion of the casing string. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein converting the swivel assembly into the third configuration comprises:
 shifting the closing sleeve from a first position to a second position upon receiving a predetermined force, the second position resulting in the closing sleeve blocking the one or more circulation ports.